eSafety – Electronic Safety – the Safe and Responsible use of Technology

eSafety promotes the safe use of information systems and electronic communications. eSafety encompasses not only Internet technologies but also electronic communications via mobile phones, games consoles and all sorts of wireless technologies.

Our e-Safety Policy has been written by the school, building on that proposed by the BECTA e-Safety Policy and government guidance. It has been agreed by senior management and approved by governors.

Why is eSafety Important?

We live in a digital age where technology is playing an ever increasing part in our lives. Technology is changing the way we do things both inside and outside of school. Although we recognise the benefits of technology, we must also be aware of any potential risks and ensure that all governors, staff, pupils, parents/carers and the wider community associated with the school are able to use technology in a safe and responsible manner.

We take eSafety very seriously at Fazakerley Primary School. Our aim is to encourage all children to understand the huge benefits of using the Internet, whilst also highlighting any possible risks they may encounter and how to deal with them. Our children are surrounded by eSafety reminders in school: advice on any networked PC’s desktop, by displays and posters, on mouse mats and even poems written by the children themselves! We have regular eSafety presentations delivered by expert staff from Fazakerley High School, as well as taking part in annual ‘Safer Internet Days’ and addressing eSafety in discrete ICT lessons, in PSHE sessions and across the curriculum as well!

Take a look at an example of our eSafety displays and visual aids and some of the work our children have produced:

Look carefully to see what the large acrostic eSafety poem reminds our pupils to do… Each line of the poem was written by a Year 5 or 6 pupil who won the prize of their work being displayed permanently by the votes of their peers. Here you see what our pupils considered to be the most effective eSafety visual resource. You can also see examples of our pupil’s own eSafety acrostic poems next to every monitor in this computer suite. They also act as an important reminder of how to stay safe online…Zooming in further still, to the lower right of each monitor is a ‘ZIP IT‘, ‘BLOCK IT‘, ‘FLAG IT‘ logo! Even the mouse mats display advice and tips!’

Here are the eSafety documents we ask our parents/carers and pupils to sign at the start of each academic year. They outline our eSafety rules and act as contracts for sensible and responsible ICT use. EYFS – Nursery and Reception children, KS1 – Years 1 and 2, KS2 – Years 3,4,5&6.